The Ultimate Guide to Watching NFL Games on Apple TV

As an NFL fan and streaming enthusiast, having access to all the live NFL action is a must. With games spread across multiple broadcasters, getting everything via Apple TV takes some strategy. In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll explore how to stream every NFL game this season through various subscription services and apps.

NFL App

The official NFL app lets you stream:

• Live NFL Network – Includes 8 regular season games, 65+ preseason games, 24/7 NFL news/analysis.
• Live NFL RedZone – Jumps around all Sunday afternoon games showing each scoring play.
• Full game replays, condensed replays, highlights
• Local/primetime CBS/Fox/NBC games – With TV provider login

But you can‘t get live out-of-market Sunday afternoon games. For that you‘ll need…

NFL Sunday Ticket

NFL Sunday Ticket shows all the out-of-market Sunday games that aren‘t broadcast in your area – essential for catching your favorite team‘s matchups each week.

Sunday Ticket has been exclusive to DirecTV satellite TV subscribers for years. They offer various packages:

• Choice Package – $293.94/season for Sunday Ticket
• Max Package – $395.94/season for Sunday Ticket + extras like RedZone, Fantasy, Mix channels
• Streaming – Only for students or those in select metro areas – $73.49/month or $293.96/season

According to reports, the NFL may offer Sunday Ticket as a standalone streaming package as soon as 2023, ending DirecTV‘s exclusivity. Nothing definite yet though.

On Apple TV, Sunday Ticket is currently limited to DirecTV satellite subscribers. But they do offer a streaming app allowing you to access the service on mobile devices, computers, and streaming boxes like Apple TV.

Live TV Streaming Services

For local and national broadcasts, live TV streaming services are your best bet. They provide NFL Network, NFL RedZone, CBS, Fox, NBC, ESPN, and more. Let‘s compare the top options:

• FuboTV – Offers NFL Network, NFL RedZone channel, CBS, Fox, NBC, and ESPN in most markets. Plans from $69.99/month.
• Sling TV – NFL Network and local Fox/NBC channels come with Sling Blue for $35/month.
• Hulu + Live TV – Includes NFL Network, CBS, Fox, NBC, and ESPN for $69.99/month.
• YouTube TV – Carries all the major NFL channels including NFL Network, RedZone, CBS, Fox, NBC, and ESPN for $64.99/month.

Check each service‘s channel lineup before signing up to get the right local game broadcasts. Free trials let you test options risk-free.

According to S&P Global, the number of vMVPD subscribers is projected to climb from 11.1 million in 2021 to 19 million in 2025, with live sports driving much of that growth.

Thursday Night Football

Thursday Night Football is now shown exclusively on Prime Video, included free for Prime members. Those without Prime can purchase a standalone Prime Video membership for $9/month.

Alternately, get Thursday night games via an NFL+ Premium subscription for $9.99/month. This also provides full and condensed game replays and more.

Sunday Night Football

Watch Sunday Night Football live on Peacock. Their Premium plan has all Sunday night games for $4.99/month. Major live TV streaming services also carry NBC and Sunday Night Football if you prefer a combined solution.

Monday Night Football

Monday Night Football is on ESPN, so you‘ll need access through a live TV streaming provider or ESPN+ subscription ($9.99/month or $99.99/year). ESPN+ also provides additional NFL content like NFL Primetime, NFL Matchup, and NFL Films.

Best Devices for Streaming NFL on Apple TV

To get the smoothest streaming, the Apple TV 4K (2021) is your best bet. Compared to previous models, it has:

• Faster A12 bionic processor for smooth 60fps streaming
• 4K HDR video support with Dolby Vision
• HDMI 2.1 and WiFi 6 compatibility

4K provides a noticeably crisper picture for sports compared to 1080p HD. But you‘ll need a 4K TV to take advantage of it.

Where possible, connect your Apple TV to ethernet for max reliability. WiFi can suffer interference causing buffering. Have at least 25 Mbps broadband speeds – 50+ Mbps recommended if you have 2-3 concurrent game streams.

Manage other device usage to prevent bandwidth congestion. Close unused apps and limit streaming on phones/tablets during games.

NFL Streaming Options Summary

No single solution gets you all NFL games. But combining a few services and subscriptions provides full access:

Choose the right subscriptions for your must-have content at the best value. Follow this guide, and you‘ll be able to catch every exciting NFL moment this season on your Apple TV. Enjoy the games!